Secret Hearts

parts 11-13

by Butterscotch

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part 11 - The X-Egg Accident!
The sun was still low in the morning sky as Gray set off to his grandfather's blacksmith shop. He walked with his hands thrust deep in his pockets and a scowl on his face. This was Gray's normal expression, and it frightened off most people. Most people....
"Gray!" Popuri called, waving her arm. She held a basket in her other arm.
Gray could feel himself blushing, and he tugged the brim of his cap lower over his face. Without hesitating, he went over to Popuri.
"Yeah?" he asked gruffly.
"Look! Look! Its soooo cute!" Popuri exclaimed. She held the basket up to Gray and he peered in, expecting to see a fuzzy newborn chick. But instead....
"An egg?" he said, glancing up, briefly, into Popuri's face.
"Its an X-egg, silly!" Popuri explained. She reached into the basket and pulled the egg out. The pink shell matched her hair. "They're really rare, and worth lots of money!"
"Oh, yeah?"
"Uh-huh!" Popuri leaned in close, and whispered,"But I'm not going to sell it! I'm going to hatch it!"
"Wha--?" Gray asked, lowering his voice to match hers.
"I want to see if an X-egg will hatch into a pink chick!"
"Oh,"
"Do you think that's silly?"
"No."
Popuri giggled. "You're so nice, Gray! Listen, please don't tell Mom or Rick about my idea, okay? They won't like it."
"I won't," Gray said.
Popuri held the egg up. "Hello, there Pinky!" she said.
And then,disaster ! The X-egg slipped from Popuri's hand. Both she and Gray moved to catch it, but it slipped away and hit the ground with a splashing crack. The insides spattered over the hem of Popuri's dress. For a moment, there was silence, then, suddenly, Popuri burst into s wailing sob. She sounded more like a child than a young woman.
"Pinky!" she screamed and dropped to her knees. Her sobs brought Rick running.
"What happened?" He cried.
Popuri looked up at Gray, and he understood that she wanted him to keep her secret.
"Jack's dog," Gray mumbled. Rick looked at him curiously and Gray added "Got loose. Scared her." And with that, Gray shoved his hands back in his pockets and hurried to Saibara's blacksmith shop.

******

Gray worked late that night. He wanted to finish up-grading Jack's new mythic hoe. It was the first time he'd ever worked on a mythic tool and he wanted ot to be perfect.
As usual, Zack came in, trudging under the weight of the shipping crates filled with dairy and produce from the Butterscotch Farm, Yodel Farm and Poultry Farm.
"Whew!" Zack said, wiping a hand across his brow. "Jack sure is getting good at farming.
Gray caught sight of something in the crate. "What's that?" he asked.
"I guess you've never seen one, huh, city boy?" Zack replied. He opened the crate and pulled out...
"An X-egg!" Gray gasped.
"Yep!" Zack beamed. Secretly he was surprised that Gray knew what an X-egg even was. "Jack's hen laid it today."
"How much?" Gray demanded.
"Huh?"
"How much will you sell it to me for?" Gray asked.
Zack named a price, and Gray gave him the money. Carefully, Gray rushed across the street and knocked on the Poultry Farm's door.
Popuri answered. It was obvious she was still upset. She looked as if she'd been crying all day.
"Here," Gray thrust the egg into Popuri's hands.
"Wha-- where did you...For me?"
Gray nodded. Popuri burst into tears and threw her arms around him. "Thank you, Gray!" she cried.
To be continued!

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part 12 - Rainy Day Gossip
The sky was swollen with heavy gray clouds that threatened to burst and spill at any moment. Most of the residents of Mineral Town settled themselves in for a cozy rainy day at home, but Manna and Anna braved the weather and headed for the supermarket.
Just after Manna arrived the rain began, a heavy pounding rain, the kind that actually hurts if it hits bare flesh. Manna heaved a sigh of relief and headed in the back. Sasha served them tea and the three women began to gossip. Naturally, the topic turned to the love lives of the younger residents.
"Gray and Popuri make a cute couple," Sasha smiled.
Anna sniffed. "Well, that may be, but until Popuri came along, Gray was interested in Mary." Anna sipped her tea, and continued. "Now that scruffy hobo, Cliff, is sniffing around my daughter!"
"Cliff is a nice boy!" Manna bristled.
"Not everyone has your inflated opinion of Cliff," Anna replied coolly.
Sasha sighed softly and poured herself more tea. She had learned long ago not to take sides when Anna and Manna began to quarrel. Secretly, Sasha agreed with Manna, but she'd never let Anna know.

*****

In her library, Mary was also drinking tea.There was a good deal more sugar in her tea than in her mother's. Most people would have made a face at the intense sweetness, but Mary drank it happily.
She set the cup down, and began to dream. She was writing a book...a best-seller...prize-winning...world famous...happily married...to Cliff....Mary sighed happily.
As she was lost in her dream, Cliff entered the library. He saw Mary seated at her desk, one hand propping up her chin, and his heart skipped a beat.
"H-hello, M-mary," he stammered.
Mary gasped and blushed. "Ah, Cliff!"
He drew closer. "Mary...Tomorrow is the Fireworks Festival. Would you like to go...with me?"
Mary's eyes widened and her blushed deepened. She quickly diverted her gaze to her desk. "I-I'd love to," she murmured.
"Really?"
"Yes, it sound fun!"
Cliff smiled. He took her hand. "Then, I'll pick you up tomorrow at 5:30." he said.

to be continued!
^_^ Well, what do you think? They're a cute couple, huh?

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Part 13 Fireworks Festival

Despite the heavy rain the day before, the day of the Fireworks Festival was bright and cloudless.
It was an unspoken tradition in Mineral Town for the young residents to view the display from the beach, while the older residents watched from elsewhere. In previous years, Carter had watched the fireworks from his church, but this year he and Karen walked down to the beach, hand-in-hand.
"I've wanted to watch the fireworks with you for a long time," Carter smiled.
"I know. Its so wonderful,"Karen replied. Her hand settled on her stomach. Carter had noticed her making this simple gesture more often, and although she hadn't yet said anything to him, he had a feeling he knew what it meant.
The Doctor arrived next, alone, and walked out to the end of the dock and stared up at the blue-black sky.
Gray and Popuri arrived next. Popuri was chattering a mile a minute. They sat down on the sand, just a few inches from the faint high-tide line, and Popuri clasped her hands around her knees.
"Do I talk too much? Do I bother you?" she asked.
"I don't mind," Gray replied. He, like many quiet people enjoyed the company of an out-going person. Besides, Popuri talked enough for the both of them.
Jack and Elli, followed closely by Mary and Cliff, showed up. Last of all came Ann, who stood off by herself. Cliff felt a jolt of guilt when he saw her all alone.
"Funny," Mary whispered. "I thought that Ann would be with the Doctor."
"Yeah...." Cliff replied. He was still watching Ann.
"Cliff...if..if you want to go be with Ann...I'll understand...."
"What? No!" Cliff faced Mary. "I want to be with you! That's why I invited you. I just feel bad for Ann."
The fireworks began. The sky was filled with glittering flowers and the air was heavy with soft booms and the gasps of the crowd. Popuri gazed up at the brilliant sky, her face alight with child-like pleasure.
"So pretty," she sighed. She smiled at Gray, and he smiled back, one of his rare, but sweet smiles. They leaned closer and kissed.
to be continued!

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Part 14: Curfew
Er, sorry. This one's pretty short! ^_^;
*****
The dazzling fireworks display ended and the sky resumed its proper color of deep blue. The young couples gathered at the shore continued to gaze up at the night sky. Suddenly a shooting star raced across the sky. The crowd gasped. Popuri applauded. Then another shooting star appeared, and another.
"Wow," Cliff murmured to Mary, "Its like nature's own fireworks."
Mary smiled at him, then gasped. "I have to get home!"
Cliff frowned. "Don't you wanna stay and watch this? You don't often see this sort of thing, you know?"
"I'd like to...But I have a curfew...My mom will kill me if I'm late...."
Mary looked down at the sand. She traced a line in the sand with her shoe.Well, this was it. Cliff would really think she was a little kid.... Cliff touched her cheek. "Then let's get you home," He said.
****
They walked together back to Mary's house. As they walked they looked up at the still-ongoing meteor shower. How Mary wished she could have back at the beach, seated on the sand, watching the little stars blaze across the inky sky. But, it was too late. There were already at Mary's house.
"Thank you, Cliff. I had a great time."
Cliff leaned in close. She could see his beautiful eyes clearly, the tiny freckles on his nose...And he leaned even closer...
It was Mary's very first kiss. She knew that no matter what she would remember this night forever....

They parted ways and Mary went inside. Anna was standing in the kitchen, her arms folded across her chest. Mary paused in the doorway. Her heart began to pound in her chest.
"Young lady, we need to have a little talk...." Anna said. Her voice was impossibly cold.
Mary nodded. She sat on a chair and awaited her lecture.
to be continued!

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Part 15: "Dear Cliff...."

Cliff stared at the note he was holding. His hand was trembling a little and he made a conscious effort to control the shaking. He reread the note.
Dear Cliff,
I'm sorry, but I can't see you anymore.
Mary
Cliff crumpled the sheet of paper and hurled it at the waste basket. It hit the wall and bounced onto the floor, but Cliff didn't notice. He was already stomping out the door. Sometime later Ann came in to clean. She went about her chore half-heartedly, her mind on the Fireworks Festival, and never noticed the crumpled note.
Ann drifted downstairs. She flicked her feather duster at the shelves, all the while thinking of Doc. She thought of him standing all alone on the dock.
I should've gone to him, she thought. I wish I had....
In the end it was Gray who found the note on the floor. He flattened it out and read it. He instantly realized that the hand-writing was not Mary's. But who's? And why was someone forging letters from Mary? Gray shoved the note in his pocket and went looking for Cliff.
"No, I haven't seen him all day," Manna sighed. "He never showed up for work. I do hope he's all right...He's such a good boy. Anna might not think so, but I know better. Why not check the church, dear? He spends a lot of time there."
Carter, it turned out, had not seen Cliff either. Gray was beginning to worry a little now. Cliff wouldn't do anything rash, would he?
to be continued!

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